IN AND OUT OF GAOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 3

IN AND OUT OF GAOL

MAORI WITH LONG UST Three months after his release from prison, a Maori, Charles Hore, labourer, aged 25, stole a tobacco pouch and money, totalling £1 Ils lid, from the front seat of a taxi he had hired early on Sunday morning. When he appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesi terday, a sentence of three months’ Im. prisoiunent, the maximum for this class of offence, was imposed. “It. looks to me as if you are nothing but a professional thief,” said the magistrate, referring to accused's previous convictions. “It is quite true that the money involved in this charge has been recovered, and that the sum is not great, but in view of your record you are a menace to the community.” Complainant was Stanley Rankin Smith, and Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson told the Court that the taxi was parked outside Yellow Cabs in Ridgway Street. The driver was in the office, but had left a toabcco pouch containing money on the front seat. At accused’s request Smith drove to Aramoho. via St. Hill Street, where a woman friend joined Hore. Before reaching Aramoho the taxidriver missed his pouch, but accused denied any knowledge of it. He repeated this denial when interviewed by Detective L. B. Vasta later in the day, but subsequently took the detec-, five to a vacant section where the pouch was found hidden in long grass. Hore had been out of prison for only three months. Asked if he had anything to say, Hore said he went into the office and ordered the taxi, hut was told to wait in the car. He saw the pouch on the front seat and was tempted to take it.

To be .Tanest with you,” accused added to the magistrate, “I did not want my girl friend mixed up with this. I have been in trouble before, and when the detective decided to take her to the police station and lock her up, too, I told all about the pouch.” The magistrate referred to accused’s list of previous convictions, including several charges of theft, attempting to utter a forged document, drunkenness, false pretences and unlawful car conversion.

“The maximum I can sentence you to under this charge is three months, and I intend imposing that sentence,” the magistrate added.